Condolences

No, I think you're probably correct if you are dealing with the General Public.

I still think that those short fuses are exacerbated by the Stirring the Pot, if it Bleeds it Leads Media.

Nowadays in the Media you might get a 15 second spot on Something Good, then the rest of the Hour on "You Know Who Screwed Whom Today?" which will repeat ad nausim for the next 12 hours.......or until someone new screws someone else.